| Utility aircraft | |
|---|---|
| The Harbin Y-12 is a utility aircraft. |
A utility aircraft is a general-purpose light plane or helicopter, usually used for transporting people or freight, but also for other duties when a more specialised aircraft is not required or available.
The term can also refer to an aircraft certified under American, Canadian, European or Australian regulations as a Utility Category Aircraft, which indicates that it is permitted to conduct limited aerobatics. The approved maneuvers include chandelles, lazy eights, spins and steep turns over 60° of bank.[1][2][3]
In the United States, military utility aircraft are given the prefix U in their designations.